Birds for the Summer

So, this post should have gone live last week, but it seems I’m unable to use the scheduling tool properly….

Burda skirt 106 5/2012

It’s another make for daughter No 2 to take to Madeira. The pattern is Burdastyle, #106 from May 2012. She’d put this pattern on her list of “wants” for this year. Luckily she’d had a good wardrobe clear-out, helped by her sister, last summer. So now, instead of me just making what I think she’ll like, I’m sticking to The List.

While routing through my fabric stash at the same time, she chose this grey bird print cotton for the skirt. It was what was left over after making a gorgeous vintage dress I’d made a couple of years ago. There is pretty much nothing left of that fabric now, so I’m chuffed that’s another piece properly used up!!

We love the high waist on this skirt, and the pockets have received the thumbs up as well! The skirt consists of front and back panels, as well as side panels, all gored to provide a decent amount of fullness that ends below the knee. The centre front consists of a concealed button stand, the instructions for which were a little odd – the next time I make this I’ll be doing it very differently.

The pockets are a doddle, the welts could provide for a design feature, using an alternative grain or fabric to emphasise them would look good. Piping could also be inserted at the join. I used black buttons from the stash for the majority of the (hidden) buttons, and two grey buttons for the visible buttons at the waist.

It’s all in the details

I took the waist in to make it similar to the culottes I’d just finished, but for some reason although that works just fine, on the skirt it’s a little on the tight side. Of course, we only realised that after she’d taken the skirt away! So when it comes home with her before she heads off back to Uni in September, I’ll let the waist out again. I’d love to make another version of this pattern, that mustard in the original photograph is still lurking in the back of my brain…

I need to get on with photographing all my June makes, I’ve been quite happily wearing them all, but no photos just yet! In the meantime, The Monthly Stitch will be kicking off Independent Pattern Month again in July and I’ve decided to take part again. I’ll do anything to get through my stash faster! Anyone else interested?

I’d never looked at that skirt before, and it does have similarities. I like that this has a grown on high waist though, and no elastic in the back. The concealed buttonstand is also a nice feature, although it could be done without to get a look closer to the Deer and Doe skirt.